Safety attachment for cutter bars



March 18,1952 A. KESSELRING 1 ,5 9,

' v ISAF'ETY ATTACHMENT FOR CUTTER- BARS Filed June 13, 1949 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 Inventor a Allorney Y MaYCh 1952 A. KESELRlNG SAFETY ATTACHMENT FOR CUTTER BARS 2 SHEETSSHEET 2 Filed June 13, 1949 A Harm Patented Mar. 18, 1952 2,589,553 SAFETY ATTACHMENT FOR CUTTER BARS Ammon Kesselring, Dover, Del. Application June 13, 1949, Serial No. 98,789

3 Claims.

This invention relates to a safety attachment primarily adapted for use on combines and other farm machinery having swingably supported cutter bars with manually controlled power actuated means for raising or lowering the cutter bar and has for its primary object to provide a device which will be actuated by engagement with obstructions adjacent the cutter, bar for automatically actuating the cutter bar lifting mechanism for raising the cutter bar for passing over such obstructions and which will likewise be actuated by engagement with the ground, in the event that the cutter bar is disposed too close to the ground, for actuating the cutter bar lifting mechanism sufilciently to elevate the cutter to a safe level above the ground over which it is passing.

A further object of the invention is to provide a safety attachment of extremely simple construction including abutment means to be enaged by an obstruction for actuating the cutter bar lifting mechanism through a fluid means.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide a safety attachment which may be readily applied to combines and other harvesters of conventional construction to function in conjunction with the conventional lifting mechanism thereof for automatically adjusting the cutting level of the cutting bar to compensate for irregularti'es or obstructions in the surface over which the cuttin bar is moving.

Numerous other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter become more fully apparent from the following description of the drawings, illustrating presently preferred embodiments thereof, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view showing one form of the invention applied to a conventional combine;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary front elevational view thereof;

Figure 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary perspective view taken substantially along a plane asindicated by the line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of one of the abutment members of the attachment:

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure I but illustrating another form of the invention;

Figure 9 is a view taken at right angles to Figure 8 but illustrating a different position of the valve core.

Referring more specifically to the drawings and first with reference to the form of the invention as illustrated in Figures 1 to 4, the safety attachment as disclosed therein is designated generally it and for the purpose of illustrating a preferred application and use thereof a portion of a conventional combine, designated generally II has been illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 3 and including a portion of the combine frame l2 on which a cutter bar supporting frame I 3 is pivotally mounted at M for upward and forward and downward and rearward swinging movement. The cutter bar suporting frame 13 carries at its lower, forward end the usual combine cutter bar l5 disposed beneath the usual revolving reel [6. A hydraulic lift pump I1 is also supported on the frame I2 and is connected to a hydraulic pulltype cylinder I 8 having a forwardly extending piston rod I9 which is connected to one end of a chain 20. The chain 20 is trained under a sprocket wheel 2! and is secured at its opposite end to a cam rock shaft 22 which is journaled on the frame 12 and which has a crank 23 projecting therefrom to which one end of a rigid connecting rod or link 24 is pivotally connected. The connecting rod 24 extends forwardly from the crank 23 and is connected at its opposite end to the cutter bar supporting frame l3 so that when the cam rock shaft 22 and its crank 23 are turned in a clockwise direction, as seen in Figure 1, the connecting rod 24 will be displaced forwardly for swinging the cutter bar supporting frame l3 and the cutter bar l5, carried thereby, upwardly and forwardly or when said parts 22 and 23 are turned counterclockwise the cutter bar supporting frame l3 and parts carried thereby will be permitted to swing downwardly and rearwardly, toward an operative position. A control shaft 25 extends upwardly from the hydraulic lift pump I! and is rotatably mounted in the casing thereof and is provided adjacent its upper end with a laterally projecting arm or lever 26 on the outer end of which one end of a connecting rod 21 is pivotally connected. The connecting rod 21 extends forwardly and upwardly from the lever 26 and is pivotally connected at its opposite end to a crank portion 28 formed on the lower end of a shaft 29. The shaft 29 is provided with a laterally projecting operating lever 30 which is fixed thereto and provided with a knob or handle 3| which is adapted to be manually engaged by the operator of the combine I1 and swung forwardly from its position of Figure l for turning the shaft 29 in a direction to exert a forward pull on the connecting rod 21 and lever 26 for turning the shaft in a direction to actuate the hydraulic lift pump I! so that hydraulic pressure will be applied to the forward end of the cylinder [8 for displacing the piston rod l9 rearwardly or inwardly of said cylinder l8 for exerting a pull on the chain 23 to'rock the cam rock shaft and crank 23 clockwise, as previously described, for elevating the cutter bar supporting frame 13. Movement of the lever in the opposite direction permits the fluid to be bled out of the forward end of the cylinder I8 and fluid pressure applied to the rear end of said cylinder for projecting the piston rod 19 forwardly so that the parts 22, 23, 24 and l3 may move in the opposite direction to enable'the cutter bar supporting frame to return to a lowered, operative position. The parts II to 3|, previously described, constitute no part of the present invention but have been merely illustrated and briefly described to afford a clearer understanding of the safety attachment I3, comprising the invention and which functions therewith.

The safety attachment [0 includes a hydraulic system, designated generally 32, including a pair of corresponding hydraulic cylinders 33 and 3311 which are supported beneath the cutter bar frame l3 by hinges 34. The cylinders 33 and 33a. are

disposed longitudinally of the combine II and in laterally spaced relationship to one another. Cylinders 33 and 33a havepiston rods 35 and 35a, respectively, which project forwardly therefrom. The piston rods 35 and 35a are reciprocally mounted in the cylinders 33 and 33a and are each connected to a reciprocating piston, not shown, disposed in its respective cylinder. Pipes or conduits 3B and 35a are connected at their remote ends to the opposite, rear ends of the cylinders '33 and 33a, respectively, and are connected at adjacent ends thereof by a T-coupling 31 to one end of a conduit section 38 an opposite end section 38a of which is connected to a hydraulic cylinder 39 adjacent the rear end thereof. The cylinder 33 is supported by a bracket 40 on the frame I2 and longitudinally thereof and is disposed forwardly of and adjacent the lever or arm 26. Adjacent ends of conduit sections 38 and 38a are connected by a flexible intermediate section or hose portion M which is disposed adjacent the cutter bar frame pivot l4 and which is of sufficient length to accommodate the swinging movement of the frame 13 relatively to the combine frame 12 since the conduit section 38 is carried by the swingable frame I3 and the conduit sec.-

tion 38a is supported by the frame I2 through its connection with the cylinder 39, as clearly illustrated in Figure 1.

The cylinder 39 likewise contains a reciprocating piston, not shown, having a piston rod 42 projeoting therefrom through the rear end of said cylinder and which is reciprocally disposed in said end. The piston rod 42 has a pivotally mounted horizontally swingably free end portion 42 which is pivotally connected at its free end to the arm or lever 26, near the outer end thereof.

A plurality of aligned, transversely spaced ears 52' are suitably secured to the under side of the bottom stationary portion of the cutter bar l5 and depend downwardly therefrom and are pro vided with aligned openings for journaling pins or trunions 43 which project from the ends and upper edge of the elongated abutment plates 54 and44a. which are-supported by said earsliZ beneath and transversely of the cutter bar I5. The abutment members or plates it and Ma are mounted for swinging movement forwardly and rearwardly of the combine H. In the embodiment of Figures 1 to 4, two abutment plates 44 and 340. have been disclosed, one of which is associated with each cylinder 33 and 33a and it will be readily apparent, as the description proceeds, that any desired number of abutment plates could be employed with a corresponding number of cylinders, all of which could be connected to the conduit 38. Each abutment plate M and 44a is provided with a pair of spaced cars 45 which project from the rear surface thereof to receive the forward end of the piston rod 35 or 35a which is disposed behind said abutment plate and which is pivotally connected to the ears 45 by a pivot pin 36. The abutment plates i l and Ma normally extend downwardly and forwardly from the cutter bar frame itand are adapted to be disposed adjacent a surfaceover which the combine II is moving. The hydraulic system 32, including the cylinders 33, 33a and 39 and conduit portions 36, 35a, 38, 38a and 4! contains a hydraulic fluid, not shown.

In the event that either of the abutment plates M or sea strikes an obstruction or a ridge or high point in the ground or surface over which the combine is moving, said plate will be swung rearwardly on its pivots 42', 43 for exerting a rearward thrust on the piston rod 35 or 35a which is connected thereto so that the hydraulic fluid will be forced from the cylinder 33 or 33a of said connecting rod through the conduit portions 36, 36a, 38, 4! and 38a to produce a pressure in the forward end of the cylinder 39 which will force-the piston thereof, not shown, forwardly to exert a forward pull on the piston rod g2 to swing the arm or lever 26 forwardly, in the same manner as previously described, for actuating the hydraulic lift pump to turn the cam rock shaft 22 and crank 23 clockwise as seen in Figure 1 for elevating the frame I3 and cutter bar l5. As soon as the cutter bar supporting frame i3 is elevated sufficiently so that the actuated abutment plate clears the ob-- struction which caused actuation thereof, it will cease to exert a rearward thrust on the piston rod 35' or 35a connected thereto so that the cutter bar sup-porting frame will only be elevated sufficiently to permit the abutment member 44 or 44a. to clear the obstruction after which said frame l3 may return to its original positionby the normal movement of the crank 26 back to its initial setting, after the obstruction has been passed.

Figures 5 to 9, inclusive, illustrate a slightly different form of; the invention and wherein the safety attachment is. designated generally 41 and is mounted on a combine Ha, corresponding to the combine H. and the corresponding parts of which are designated by corresponding reference numerals and the letter a. The safety attachment t? includes a vacuum system, designated generally 48, includin a vacuum tank 43 which is supported by brackets on the frame [2a. and which has a conduit 54 leading from one endthereof and adapted to be connected to a vacuum source, not shown, such as the'intake manifold of the internal combustion engine constituting the prime mover of the combine Ha), not shown. The vacuum system 48 also includes a vacuum line including a section 52a'leading from the opposite, forward end of the. Vacuum tank 49 and supported by the frame 120, and a section 52 supported "bythe cutter bar supporting frame I311. The adjacent ends of sections-.52 and 52a are con nected by a flexible intermediate section 53 located adjacent the pivot [4a and for the same purpose as the flexible conduit section 4|. v

A pair of abutment plates 54 and 54a are pivotally mounted at 43a on the under side of the stationary section of the cutter bar [5a in the same manner and for the same purpose as the abutment plates 44 and 44a and each of said abutment plates 54 and 54a is pivotally connected to an end of a rearwardly extending connecting rod 55 and 55a, respectively. A pair of corresponding valves, designated generally 56 and 56a, are supported on the bottom portion of the frame l3a, one behind each of the abutment plates 54, each by a supporting bracket 51 which is fastened to a part of the frame l3a. Each valve includes a frusto-conical housing 58 and a frusto-conical core or valve body 59 which is disposed rotatably in its housing 58 and in close fitting engagement therewith, as illustrated in Figures 8 and 9. A crank arm 66 is suitably fixed to and projects from the larger end of the valve body of valve 56 and a crank arm 60a projects from the enlarged end of the valve body of valve 56a and the angularly disposed free end of the cranks 60 and 60a are pivotally connected to the opposite, rear ends of the connecting rods 55 and 55a, respectively. A pair of contractile coil springs 6| and 6| a are secured to a rod 62 which connects the crank arms 60 and 69a. The springs BI and Blu extend forwardly therefrom and are anchored at their opposite ends to portions of the frame l3a for urging the crank arms to turn with the valve bodies 59 in a clockwise direction, as illustrated in Figures 5 and 7, for normally positioning the valve bodies or cores 59 as seen in Figure 8 and for displacing the connecting rods 55 and 55a forwardly to cause the abutment plates 54 and 54a to normally assume the positions as illustrated in Figures 5 and '7.

The valve housings 58 have corresponding forwardly opening ports 63, as seen in Figure 8, with which the ends of a conduit 64 connect. The opposite end of the conduit 52 is connected by a T-coupling 65 to a portion of the conduit 64 and thereby connected to each of the valves 56 and 56a through its port 63.

Each of the valve housings 58 is also provided with a rearwardly opening port 66 which is located diametrically opposite to its port 63 and which connects with an end of a conduit 61 so that the ports 66 are in communication through said conduit 61. One end of a conduit 68 connects with the conduit 61 by means of a T-coupling 69, as best illustrated in Figure 6, and said conduit 68 extends upwardly therefrom and is supported by the frame Mia and another 68a is connected to one end of a vacuum cylinder 10 and supported thereby. The conduits 68 and 68a are connected by an intermediate flexible conduit section (I likewise located adjacent the pivot Ma and for the same purpose as the flexible conduit section 4!. The cylinder 70 is supported by a bracket 12 on the frame I2a and longitudinally thereof and the conduit 68a connects with the forward end of said cylinder 10. The cylinder 10 contains a. piston, not shown, which is reciprocally disposed therein and has a piston rod 13 extending from its rear end and reciprocally disposed therein. The cylinder 10 is adapted to be located in the same position as the cylinder 39 and a rear pivoted section 13 of the piston rod 13 is pivotally connected to the outer free end of the crank or lever 26a of the pump actuating shaft 25a.

Referring to Figures 8 and 9. each valve body or core 59 has a bore or passage 74 extending diametrically therethrough and is also provided with a radial bore or passage 15 which projects inwardly from a portion of its periphery and communicates with the intermediate portion of the passage 14. Each valve housing 58 is also provided with a vent port 16 in its bottom.

Figure 8 illustrates'the normal position of the valve bodies 59 when the abutment plates Y54 and 54a are in their positions, as seen in Figures 5 and 7 and when thus disposed, it will be noted that the passage 75 of each valve body 59 is in communication with the conduit 61 and that one end of the bore or passage 14 is in communication with the vent port 16 so that the rear end of the cylinder Ill may be vented through either or both ports 16 to permit the piston thereof and its piston rod 13 to move rearwardly and so that the arm or lever 26a can assume its normal position as illustrated in Figure 5. When either of the abutment plates 54 or 54a is engaged by an obstruction or an uneven part of the surface over which the combine I la is moving, both plates will be swung rearwardly in the manner as previously described with reference to the individual abutment plates 44 and 44a through the connection of the valve cranks 60 and 60a by the rod 62 for thereby rotating the valve bodies 59 counterclockwise, as seen in Figure 8, to move the passages 14 out of registry with the vent ports 16 and into registry with the ports 63 and 66 so that the vacuum in the line 52, 53, 520. will create a vacuum in the line 68, H, 68a and in the forward end of the cylinder 10 for displacing the piston rod 13 forwardly, as previously described with reference to the safety attachment l0, and which will result in the hydraulic lift pump Ila being actuated by its shaft 25a for elevating the cutter bar l5a and its supporting frame 13a, in the same manner as previously described. Likewise, after the plate 54 or 54a has passed over the obstruction the springs 6| and 6 la will return the plates 54 and 54a to" their positions of Figures 5 and '7 to return the valves 59 to their positions of Figure 8 so that the rear end of the cylinder 16 can be vented through the ports 16 to permit the pistonrod I3 and arm 26a to return to their positions of Figure 5 and so that the cutter bar can be returned to its operative position of Figure 5.

It will likewise be readily apparent that the vacuum system 48 may be actuated by either abutment plate 54 or 54a to act on the hydraulic lift pump Na in substantially the same manner as the hydraulic system 32.

It will be readily apparent that other forms of abutment members or plates could be provided in lieu of the plates 44 and 44a and 54 and 54a and which could be mounted for sliding as well as swinging movement for actuating the piston rods 35 or 35a or connecting rods 55 or 55a.

Various other modifications and changes are likewise contemplated and may obviously be resorted to, without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as hereinafter defined by the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A safety attachment for farm machines equipped with swingably supported cutter bars and an actuating unit for raising and lowering the cutting bar thereof, comprising at least one abutment member supported beneath the cutter bar for movement forwardly and rearwardly of the farm machine, a rod supported on the machine frame for reciprocating movement relatively thereto and having one end connected to actuating lever of the actuating unit for raising and lowering the cutter bar, a second 'r'od connected to said abutment :member and extend ing rearwardly therefrom, and power transmission means including a conduit containing a fluent medium forming an operative connection between said first mentioned rod and said second rod for automatically operating the cutter bar actuating unit when said second rod is displaced rearwardly by the abutment member striking an obstruction and being moved rearwardly relatively to the cutter bar thereby, said power transmission means comprising a vacuum system including a vacuum line having a vacuum cylinder at one end thereof, said first mentioned rod comprising a piston'rod having one end reciprocally mounted in said cylinder, a valve interposedin said vacuum line and provided with an actuating crank, and said second rod having its opposite end pivotally connected to said crank for opening the valve for creating a suction in the vacuum cylinder when said abutment member is displaced rearwardly.

'2. A. safety attachment for farm machines equipped with swingably supported cutter bars and an actuating unit for raising and lowering thecutting bar thereof, comprising at least one abutment member supported beneath the cutter bar for movement forwardly and rearwardly of the farm machine, a rod supported on the machine frame formreciprocating movement rela tively thereto and having one end connected to an actuating lever of the actuating unit for raising and loweringthe cutter bar, a second rod connected to, said abutment member and extending rearwardly therefrom, and power transmission means including a conduit containing a fiuent medium forming an operative connection between said first mentioned rod and said second rod for automatically operating the cutter bar actuating unit when said second rod is displaced rearwardly by the abutment member striking an obstruction and being moved rearwardly relatively to the cutter bar thereby, said power transmission means comprising a vacuum system including a vacuum line having a vacuum cylinder at one end thereof, said first mentioned rod com-' prising a piston rod having one end reciprocally mounted in said cylinder, a valve interposed in said vacuum line and provided with an actuating crank, said second rod having its opposite end pivotally connected to said crank for opening the valve for creating a suction in the vacuum cylin-' der when said abutment member is displaced rearwardly, and a second abutment member mounted in longitudinally aligned relationship to said first mentioned abutment member, a rod extending rearwardly from said second abutment member, a by-pass line formin a part of the vacuum system and Icy-passing said valve, and a second valve interposed in the by-pass line and having a crank pivotally connected to the rod of the second abutment member for selectively actuating the attachment.

3. A safety attachment for farm machines equipped with swingably supported cutter bars and an actuating unit for raising and lowering the cutting bar thereof, comprising at least one abutment member supported beneath the cutter bar for movement forwardly and rearwardly of the farm machine, a rod supported onthe machine frame for reciprocating movement relatively thereto and having one end connected to an actuating lever of the actuating unit for raising and lowering the cutter bar, a second rod connected to said abutment member and extending rearwardly therefrom, and power transmission means including a conduit containing a fluent medium forming an operative connection between said first mentioned rod and saidsecond rod for automatically operating the cutter bar actuating unit when said second rod is displaced rearwardly by the abutment member striking an obstruction and being moved rearwardly relatively to the cutter bar thereby, said abutment member being pivotally connected adjacent one longitudinal edge thereof to the cutter bar and extending downwardly therefrom for rearward and upward swinging movement upon striking an obstruction, said abutment member being normally disposed in an elevated position above and out of engagement with a surface over which the cutter bar is moving. 7

AMMON KESSELRING.

REFERENCES CITED- The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

